Post-ADE FAM Tour Classical Tour of History, Culture and Gastronomy April 18 - 22, 2018 WHERE: Athens – Argolis – Olympia – Meteora –Athens WHEN: April 18-22, 2018 ITINERARY AT A GLANCE: • Wednesday, April 18 o Athens - Corinth Canal - Argolis - Nafplio • Thursday, April 19 o Nafplio – Arcadia - Olympia • Friday, April 20 o Nafpaktos – Delphi - Arachova • Saturday, April 21 o Hosios Lukas – Meteora • Sunday, April 22 o Meteora Monasteries – Thermopylae - Athens COST: Occupancy Price* Double Occupancy $735 Single Occupancy $953 Reservations on this tour MUST be made by December 31, 2017. WHAT’S INCLUDED*: • Private Land Travel o 5-day excursion o Private vehicle o English speaking driver o Gas and toll costs o Fridge with water, refreshments and snacks • Private Guided tours o Mycenae (1.5hr) - State licensed guide o Epidaurus (1.5hr) - State licensed guide o Nafplio Orientation tour (1.5 hr) - State licensed guide o Olympia (2hrs) - State licensed guide o Augmented reality Ipads o Delphi (2hrs) - State licensed guide o Meteora (3.5hrs) – Sunset tour – Specialized local guide o Meteora (5 hrs) – Monasteries tour - State licensed guide Classical Tour of History, Culture and Gastronomy I April 18 - 22, 2018 I Page 1 of 6 WHAT’S INCLUDED (cont.)*: • Entry Fees o Mycenae o Epidaurus o Olympia o Delphi o Hosios Lukas o Meteora Monasteries • Activities o Winery Visit & Wine Tasting in Nemea o Winery Visit & Wine Tasting in Olympia o Olive oil and olives tasting in Delphi • Meals o Breakfast and lunch or dinner throughout the 5-day itinerary • Taxes o All legal taxes • Accommodations– Double room occupancy o Day 1– Nafplio 4* hotel o Day 2 – Olympia 4* hotel o Day 3 – Arachova 5* hotel o Day 4 – Meteora 4* Hotel ESSENTIAL INFORMATION: • A minimum of 2 persons is required to operate this tour. • The maximum number of persons is 12. • Travel insurance is not required but is highly recommended. • Your registration is non-refundable unless the FAM is cancelled by ASTA or the Supplier. • Valid passports are required but Visas are not needed. • Reservations on this tour MUST be made by Dec. 31 • Have questions? Contact Don McGahee at [email protected]. FULL ITINERARY: DAY 1 - Wednesday, April 18 – Mythical Argolis • You will start from Athens in the early morning. • After a short stop to the Corinth Canal and a scenic drive you will reach the archeological site of Mycenae, one of the major centers of Greek civilization, a military stronghold which dominated much of southern Greece. In the company of your state-licensed guide you will explore the monumental ruins of the imposing archeological site that blends so beautifully with the surrounding landscape. About: The period of Greek history from about 1600 B.C. to about 1100 B.C. is called Mycenaean in reference to the far-reaching influence of this city-state. Its military prowess established it as the dominant political, cultural and mercantile power of that epoch. • After your visit to Mycenae, around noon, you will depart to Nemea region. About: It is the place where Hercules, according to the Herculean Labors legend, fought and slew the ferocious lion that was menacing the local communities. Later, in historic times, the famous Nemean athletic Games were held at two- or three-year intervals. Nowadays it is best known for its centuries- Classical Tour of History, Culture and Gastronomy I April 18 - 22, 2018 I Page 2 of 6 long tradition of winemaking. It is, arguably, the most prominent wine appellation in the whole of Greece due to its size, volume of production but, most significantly, due to the stylistic approach of the wines which compliment perfectly the rich cuisine of these southern parts of the country. Since the introduction of international varietals, most notably Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the resulting wines have diversified vastly in character, thanks to the versatility of the terroir, as well as the successful blending of the newcomers with the indigenous ‘Agiorghitiko’ grape. • In order to enjoy the region’s wines, you will visit one of Greece’s finest wineries, where you will go through a wine-tasting experience. You will also have the chance to taste some local delicacies that have been carefully selected to accompany each tasted wine. • In the early afternoon you will visit the spectacular archeological site of Epidaurus. Its ancient town stands on Argolian land, overlooking the Saronic Gulf. Here, you will have the chance to admire the world-famous ancient theater, still in use today, as well as the sanctuary of Asclepius and the Ancient Stadium of Epidaurus. About: Asclepius was the ancient god of medicine, and the sanctuary dedicated to him also functioned as a healing place for the ailing. It is considered to be the birthplace of modern medicine, because the healing methods applied here were markedly distanced from the archaic practices that pertained to superstition and attributed ailments and cures to the divine. It soon grew in size, developing into a vast medical complex whose influence was extended throughout the ancient world; It is calculated that more than 200 healing centers operated under Asklepieion’s authorization throughout the Eastern Mediterranean area. The theater, which can sit 14,000 was the fruit of the prosperity brought to the area thanks to the operation of the Asclepieion. It was built by Polykleitos the Younger in the 4th century B.C. It is notorious for the exceptional acoustics afforded to it by its unique construction, allowing even those seated at the upper-most row to listen to the actors without any technical means. • After Epidaurus, your next destination is Nafplio where you will check in at your Hotel and enjoy the evening in this beautiful seaside town, which once enjoyed the status of Capital of the newly-founded Greek State. DAY 2 – Thursday, April 19 – Eternal Olypmia • Your day will start with a pleasant guided walk around Nafplio. • Starting from Acronafplia Castle, which offers exceptional views to Nafplio and its port, you will walk down through the cobbled streets of the town. The rich history of the area will be revealed to you while you will be admiring the beautiful old quarter of Nafplio filled with historical buildings and monuments. • You will then drive through the Arcadia mountain region, a wondrous, magical place, according to the Greek Mythology, where mythical creatures dwelled, along with dryads, nymphs and other spirits. About: You will admire beautiful landscapes and traditional stone-built villages while you will be introduced to the regional cuisine with a delicious lunch. The region is dotted with historic villages that featured prominently in the Greek war of Independence. Your drive through this mountain range offers the option to visit one of them. Vytina is a well-known village that has been officially recognized as a ‘traditional settlement’ due to its architecture. It is located at the foot of mount Mainalo. The area is also famous for its production of marble, a special variety called the ‘Black of Vytina’. Many of the heroes of the Independence struggle hailed from here, which meant that the village was often targeted by the Turks as revenge. It has been put to the torch on 7 occasions! Vytína used to be an important center for the textile industry and woodcrafts but today the economy is largely dependent on tourism. Dimitsana was built on the ruins of the ancient town Tefthis. It has been officially recognized as a ‘traditional settlement’ too. A stroll will unveil its beautiful stone-built houses, while you will also be able to admire the ruins of the ancient fortifications. It also offers marvelous views of Lousios gorge, the Classical Tour of History, Culture and Gastronomy I April 18 - 22, 2018 I Page 3 of 6 Megalopolis plain and Taygetus Mountain. Dimitsana is probably the most well-known town with regards to the Greek War of Independence, as it was the production and distribution center of gunpowder for the Greek fighters. This heritage is still evident in the locals’ sense of self-identity, as expressed through tales and fables from the revolution era, which they still remember from their forefathers. • In the afternoon you will reach the site of Ancient Olympia. With your guide you will walk through and learn everything about the impressive ruins and you will marvel the numerous attractions of the site such as the massive temple of Zeus, the Museum, and the ancient stadium where athletes used to train and run 3000 years ago. To make it easier for everyone to realize how the archaeological site of Olympia looked like in the Ancient times we offer the use tablets that will be presenting the site, as it used to be, with three-dimensional representations. Through the special augmented reality program of the iPad you will be able to see full 3D colored reconstruction of statues, buildings and ancient objects, in real Time as you are moving it. About: Olympia is the most celebrated sanctuary of ancient Greece and the birthplace of the most significant athletic event of all times-the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games took place here for at least 1000 years, held every four years until their abolition by Emperor Theodosius I in AD 393. Today, the Olympic flame continues to be lit here for the modern Games. You can walk through the impressive ruins of the area where athletes trained and run in the ancient stadium and visit the museum and get the chance to see some unbelievable sculptures such as the sculpted decoration of the temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the famous Hermes of Praxiteles and the statue of Nike of Paionios.